Is mental illness common in young people?
• The greatest numbers of people with a mental illness are in the 18-24 year age group. • 14% of Australian children and adolescents aged 4-17 years have mental health problems. This rate of mental health problems is found in all age and gender groups, although boys are slightly more likely to experience mental health problems than girls. • Onset of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia usually occurs in the mid to late teen years. • Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in young people. • Adolescents with mental health problems report a high rate of suicidal thoughts and other health-risk behaviour, including smoking and drug use. Are the patterns similar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? • At present, there is no definitive national data about the incidence or prevalence of mental disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. However, limited available research supports the conclusion that serious mental disorders occur in these p
